News
Obi Says Corruption and Poor Leadership Are Pushing Nigerians Deeper Into Poverty
Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, has blamed Nigeria’s stalled progress on corruption, insecurity, and what he described as weak leadership under President Bola Tinubu.
In a statement on his X handle, Obi said more Nigerians are slipping into poverty because leaders have failed to prioritise the welfare of the people. He cited United Nations figures showing that about 34 million citizens could face severe food shortages, while 133 million, roughly 63% of the population, are living in multidimensional poverty.
The former Anambra State governor noted that inflation, now close to 30%, combined with unemployment and poor economic management, has eroded the middle class. He argued that other countries facing similar or even worse conditions have managed to recover through disciplined leadership and sound policies, pointing to Argentina as an example.
Obi highlighted that Argentina’s poverty rate, which stood at over 52% with inflation above 200% in early 2024, has dropped significantly under its new president – with poverty now at 38.1%, extreme poverty at 8.2%, and inflation reduced to 2–3% monthly within two years.
Drawing a comparison, he said both Argentina’s president and Tinubu started their terms in the same year, stressing that while two years may not be enough to fully transform a country, it is enough to begin meaningful reforms if leaders are honest and focused.
TV anchor Rufai Oseni makes headlines as he speaks on fuel subsidy in Nigeria. He shared that Nigeria can have fuel subsidy without the long queues at filling stations.
“When we were still paying subsidies, there were no long queues. We were subsidising. So you can still have a subsidy regime going on, and there will be no long queues because production was close by. Dangote had it. That’s just it. That argument also falls flat.
“The biggest beneficiaries of subsidy are not Nigerians. They are crony capitalists that have big infrastructure, and they do contracts. They have been the biggest beneficiaries of the subsidy,” he said.
Lagos State Governor, Sanwo-Olu, speaks to those in the electricity sector about the usual blackouts in the state.
He speaks on ways things can change in the state and how electricity can be provided.
“We need to drop corporate egos, abandon long-standing excuses, and confront the harsh realities obstructing progress in the power sector.”
“We, state governments, used to give excuses that everything is centralised, so the Federal Government has unbundled it now. What have we done in a year and a half?” Sanwo-Olu asked.
“We take two steps forward, we go five steps backward,” he said.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has declared Thursday, August 20, a work-free day for public servants in the state to mark the Isese Festival.
Speaking on the celebration, he said “Ìṣẹ̀ṣe is not a relic. It is a living expression of our traditions and a celebration of Yoruba spirituality as an important part of Nigeria’s cultural and religious landscape,” he said.
He added “When the drums sound in Lagos on Thursday, they answer drums in Havana, in Salvador, in Port of Spain. Fifty-five million people and counting. Lagos is not observing a local holiday. Lagos is standing at the centre of a global heritage,” Aregbe said.
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